Conventional power plants
1 Have you ever wondered where the electricity in your house comes from? Read the texts about the
different types of power plants and match them with the pictures.1 0 Nuclear power plants
About 10% of the world's electric power is produced by nuclear power plants. Nuclear power requires little fuel and causes much less
air pollution than other power plants, but it can cause severe health and environmental problems when accidents occur, with a
consequent release of radioactive material. This type of energy is produced by the splitting of atoms of uranium, which releases heat.
This process -called fission -produces large amounts of steam, which is used to turn the blades of turbines thus creating energy. The
main problems with nuclear power are linked to the location of the power plants, as people are not willing to have these plants near their
homes, and the disposal of waste material, which stays radioactive for centuries.20 Thermoelectric power plants
They provide about 2/3 of the world's electricity. These plants
burn fossil fuels, such as coal, oil or natural gas, which are all
non-renewable resources. This means that in the future there
will be a limited supply of these resources. The main advantage
of thermoelectric power plants is that they are reliable and
can meet the demand in peak periods. Electricity is generated
by heating water in a boiler to create steam, which is then
pressurised and used to turn the blades of giant turbines that
produce electricity. These power plants cause environmental
pollution because of the combustion of fossil fuels which
release carbon dioxide.3D Hydroelectric power plants
The energy produced by water can be captured and turned
into electricity. The use of a dam on a river allows hydroelectric
power plants to store water in an artificial lake, or reservoir.
When released, the force of the water spins the blades of giant
turbines, which are connected to a generator producing energy.
Hydropower is one of the most important renewable energy
resources, because it is reliable, efficient and does not pollute
the air. Although it has high initial costs, it is cheap to operate.
Unfortunately, it has a great impact on the environment, as
humans, animals and plants may lose their natural habitats.2 Read the texts again and decide if the following sentences are true (T) or false (F), then correct the false
ones.
1 Nuclear power plants do not produce air pollution at all.
2 Accidents in nuclear power plants can have terrible consequences for the environment.
3 Nuclear power plants produce biodegradable waste material.
4 Thermoelectric power is generated by the combustion of renewable resources.
5 Thermoelectric power plants are environmentally friendly.
6 Dams are built on rivers to store water.
7 The water released from the reservoir flows through the generator.
8 The only disadvantage of hydropower is its high initial cost.